JULY 19, 2012

Schumacher: Hockenheim will suit our car

Both Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg think that Mercedes are potential podium finishers in Mercedes' home grand prix at Hockenheim.

Both Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg think that Mercedes are potential podium finishers in Mercedes' home grand prix at Hockenheim.

"Out most difficult race, Silverstone, is behind us," Schumacher said. "Hockenheim will suit our car more. We want to give it a good show and will put in maximum efforts, as always, but if we can do anything extra, we will."

Team mate Rosberg, who scored the team's debut win in Malaysia, has had just one other podium finish since, in Monte Carlo, and is anxious to get his challenge back on track having slipped to 54 points behind championship leader Fernando Alonso.

Rosberg said that the apparent drop-off in Mercedes form in the past few races was not necessarily the true picture.

"We haven't optimized what we had in the last few races," he said. "We still have a good car and if we get a grip on the tyres we can hopefully hopefully have a very good result."

Rosberg added that racing at Hockenheim is always a special feeling. Sitting on the roof of his father's DTM car as Keke took the fans applause from the stadium section in a special atmosphere at his lasr race was, he says, very special.

"I knew then that I wanted to do this," he smiled.